Blinds

The two forced bets (small blind and big blind) posted by the players to the left of the button before any cards are dealt. They exist so there is always something to play for.

Related terms

Full glossary

Small blind

The smaller forced bet, posted by the player directly to the left of the button before the deal, usually half …

Big blind

The larger of the two forced bets posted before the cards are dealt, by the player two seats to the left of th…

2-7 Triple Draw

A lowball draw game with three drawing rounds where the best hand is 2-3-4-5-7 (not of one suit). Aces are hig…

Ante

A small forced bet every player at the table posts before the deal, on top of the blinds. Common in tournament…

Board

The community cards in the middle of the table that every player can use: the flop (three cards), the turn (fo…

Button

The dealer position, marked by a round disc that moves one seat clockwise every hand. The button acts last on …

Cards speak

The rule that at showdown the actual value of the tabled cards determines the winner, regardless of what a pla…

Chip dumping

Deliberately losing chips to another player — usually a friend or backer — to transfer value between accounts …